Who is the most underrated guitarist?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ibanezrocks
  • Start date Start date
Ty Tabor - No Question.

And as far as I'm concerned Paul Gilbert dosen't get enough credit.
 
A couple of other guys who do not get their due respect.

David Grissom- played on albums by Joe Ely, Storyville, and John Mellencamp

Ty Tabor- King's X

David Wilcox- Known for his alternate tunings.
 
Any one of these guys can melt your face with metal chops, country Licks or what ever style you want to hear.
I think it's cool to hear Keith sing His country tunes to pay the bills and when it comes time to schred He can rip down the house. Same goes for any one of these guys.

Keith Urban
Vince Gill
Brad Paisley
Neal Schon
Phil Keaggy
Danny Gatton

C
 
I definitely agree with John Mayer and Prince.

Bbop73 mentioned Ed O'brien, but my pick from Radiohead is Johnny Greenwood. Definitely an underrated guitarist. He can make a guitar do some strange things, but somehow it always makes the song. I couldn't imagine Radiohead without him.
 
Leo Kottke
Steve Vai

I only say steve is underrated because usually only guitarist know who he is, and usually only good guitarist.
 
Duke Levine is a country-rock player from MA who I think sounds like a cross between Albert Lee and Steve Cropper. Last I had heard, and this was a while ago, he had gone to Nashville and became Mary Chapin Carpenter's lead guitar. He records far too infrequently, if you look at his website I definately recommend "Nobody's Home".

As far as well-known but underrated, I'd second the Steve Cropper. All that Booker T & The MGs stuff is fabulous; I think their version of "Summertime" best demonstates how tasty Cropper is.
 
Come on guys, let's stick to folks that most folks know. I can name every obscure guitar player in the world, but it's not really answering the question.
Also, how the fuck can Steve Vai be an underated guitar player? The dudes on like every cover of every guitar wank mag ever made. He's the most overated guitar player. The dude can't write a catchy tune to save his life. Not that is what makes you a good guitar player, but if i got to sit through a boring unispired song/album to get to a magic solo, then he ain't no "god". All those fucks like Vai/Satriani/Malmsteen/Eric Johnson miss that point. You need a good vehicle to showcase a solo. What are you impressed with? Speed? Jonn Mclaughlin can shred those guys in that department. Technique? who the fuck cares if you are not saying something worth hearing. Guitar playing is not a pissing contest. I'd rather hear Kurt Cobain or Lightnin' Hopkins play a solo that sounds like they fuckin mean it but is not "technically" very good, than some 1,000 note a minute shred fest that emotes nothing other than "Look how fast and complicated I can play".
All you guys that are fascinated with these Vai folks need to listen to someone who can say something with as few notes as possible. I have heard Neil Young, David Gilmour, Jim Hall, Marc Ribot, and Robert Fripp say more in one note than these guys like Vai and Satriani say on a whole album. The only thing that is transcending about music is emotion. Technique and speed can be learned and practiced with discipline. Having something to say and being sincere within conviction is not something learned in a guitar class or a tab book. Sometimes I think people who like these guitar shreders feel safe because aspiring to that does not require having to say something real or important and does not ask anything from the listener in terms of emotional insight. Feel can't be taught. Translating emotion can't be a given. A good guitar solo hits me in my "feel", not in my technical observation skills.
 
jonhall5446 said:
Steve Cropper
Click to expand...
Good call.
How about Luther Perkins? Cliff White? or Bobby Womack?
This is a hard one to answer since all these guys are appreciated by some people(with the possible exception of Cliff White who I could find practically no information on). It's just that maybe they should be appreciated by a lot more. I guess the people who said the really underated guitarists are the ones who never make a record or get famous have it right. Still, there are some who, though they do have followings, still deserve more recognition. Like my personal favorite, the great Elizabeth Cotten.
 
Trevor Rabin. His work with Yes is often overshadowed because everybody remebers Steve Howe (who is, indeed, incredible). Also, Trevor's solo albums are awesome. So many different styles with such accomplisment.

And, let us not forget one of the greatest underrated rhythm players--John Lennon, who also could play some decent leads. But his rhythm playing was impeccable and very tasty (Dear Prudence, Jullia, Sun King, You Can't Do That all come to mind)

Peace, Jim
 
capnreverb said:
Come on guys, let's stick to folks that most folks know. I can name every obscure guitar player in the world, but it's not really answering the question.
Also, how the fuck can Steve Vai be an underated guitar player? The dudes on like every cover of every guitar wank mag ever made. He's the most overated guitar player. The dude can't write a catchy tune to save his life. Not that is what makes you a good guitar player, but if i got to sit through a boring unispired song/album to get to a magic solo, then he ain't no "god". All those fucks like Vai/Satriani/Malmsteen/Eric Johnson miss that point. You need a good vehicle to showcase a solo. What are you impressed with? Speed? Jonn Mclaughlin can shred those guys in that department. Technique? who the fuck cares if you are not saying something worth hearing. Guitar playing is not a pissing contest. I'd rather hear Kurt Cobain or Lightnin' Hopkins play a solo that sounds like they fuckin mean it but is not "technically" very good, than some 1,000 note a minute shred fest that emotes nothing other than "Look how fast and complicated I can play".
All you guys that are fascinated with these Vai folks need to listen to someone who can say something with as few notes as possible. I have heard Neil Young, David Gilmour, Jim Hall, Marc Ribot, and Robert Fripp say more in one note than these guys like Vai and Satriani say on a whole album. The only thing that is transcending about music is emotion. Technique and speed can be learned and practiced with discipline. Having something to say and being sincere within conviction is not something learned in a guitar class or a tab book. Sometimes I think people who like these guitar shreders feel safe because aspiring to that does not require having to say something real or important and does not ask anything from the listener in terms of emotional insight. Feel can't be taught. Translating emotion can't be a given. A good guitar solo hits me in my "feel", not in my technical observation skills.
Click to expand...


Damn Straight. Thats all that needs saying really.
 
Dave Navarro yip.
Dave Grohl for his style not his technical ability!
Dyna Mike from Incubus, he is genius with his style, creativity, originality and tech.
Also alot of folk i know that arnt in the mainstream, yet.

Oops almost forgot Jeff Buckley for his weird emotional guitar playing. Waoww!
 
Here are some of my favorites...
Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle), Chris Poland (Ohm, Megadeth), Zoogz Rift, Paul DiBartolo (Spread Eagle), Akira Takasaki (Loudness), Paul Gilbert (Racer X / Mr. Big),Terry Kath (Chicago), Rory Gallagher (Taste), Jimmy Lyon (Eddie Money) , Jerry Riggs (The Riggs / Pat Travers), Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple / James Gang), Bernie Torme' (Gillan / Ozzy), Mark Gallagher (Raven), Jimmie Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit), Audley Freed (Cry of Love / Black Crowes), Robin Trower, Ronnie Montrose, Bobby Messano (Starz) , Ross The Boss (Dictators / Manowar), Dave Meniketti (Y&T), Andy "Duck" MacDonald, Mike Slamer (City Boy / Streets), Paul Kossoff (Free), Chuck Schuldiner (Death / Control Denied), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), George Benson, Dave Feinstein (Elf/ The Rods), Ray Gomez, Richie Stotts (Plasmatics), Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions), Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo/Sick Speed/Fozzy), Reeves Gabrels (Tin Machine/David Bowie), Paul Chapman (UFO) , Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa's band/Beer For Dolphins), Bill Tsamis (Warlord), The "Unknown" John Clark (Bruford), Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls), Ani DiFranco, Bill Connors (Return to Forever), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave), Michael Willis, Billy Gibbons (Z.Z. Top), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Rick Derringer, Joe Bonamassa, Vince Gill, Junior Brown, Ricky Skaggs, Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakum), James Scott (Vain), Jan Akkerman (Focus), Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), Tim Harrington (Masters of Reality / Bogeymen / Creepjoint), Bill Frisell, Fred Frith, Andy LaRoque (King Diamond), Mike Stern, Sonny Landreth.
 
NoiseFactory said:
Here are some of my favorites...
Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle), Chris Poland (Ohm, Megadeth), Zoogz Rift, Paul DiBartolo (Spread Eagle), Akira Takasaki (Loudness), Paul Gilbert (Racer X / Mr. Big),Terry Kath (Chicago), Rory Gallagher (Taste), Jimmy Lyon (Eddie Money) , Jerry Riggs (The Riggs / Pat Travers), Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple / James Gang), Bernie Torme' (Gillan / Ozzy), Mark Gallagher (Raven), Jimmie Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit), Audley Freed (Cry of Love / Black Crowes), Robin Trower, Ronnie Montrose, Bobby Messano (Starz) , Ross The Boss (Dictators / Manowar), Dave Meniketti (Y&T), Andy "Duck" MacDonald, Mike Slamer (City Boy / Streets), Paul Kossoff (Free), Chuck Schuldiner (Death / Control Denied), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), George Benson, Dave Feinstein (Elf/ The Rods), Ray Gomez, Richie Stotts (Plasmatics), Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions), Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo/Sick Speed/Fozzy), Reeves Gabrels (Tin Machine/David Bowie), Paul Chapman (UFO) , Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa's band/Beer For Dolphins), Bill Tsamis (Warlord), The "Unknown" John Clark (Bruford), Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls), Ani DiFranco, Bill Connors (Return to Forever), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave), Michael Willis, Billy Gibbons (Z.Z. Top), Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad), Rick Derringer, Joe Bonamassa, Vince Gill, Junior Brown, Ricky Skaggs, Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakum), James Scott (Vain), Jan Akkerman (Focus), Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac), Tim Harrington (Masters of Reality / Bogeymen / Creepjoint), Bill Frisell, Fred Frith, Andy LaRoque (King Diamond), Mike Stern, Sonny Landreth.
Click to expand...

All over the fuckin' place. That's what I like too see. Good man!
 
Never thought this thread (or any i start) would get this much attention

I think Billy Corgan (from the smashing pumpkins) has never gotten enough credit, not for being technically great, but just for being original in style and covering lots of different styles of music.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top